NHL Trade Deadline 2013: Recapping Deals and Grades for Every Team

NHL Trade Deadline 2013: Recapping Deals and Grades for Every Team

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The 2013 NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and there were a ton of moves made over the last week that will have a huge impact on who makes the playoffs and which team lifts the Stanley Cup.

While some teams made bold moves for star players and gave up future assets to make a playoff push and chase a Stanley Cup title, other clubs decided to stand pat and not pay the high asking prices for rentals and veteran players.

Which teams made smart moves, and which teams should have done more/less? Let's recap all the important trades made over the last week and assess grades for every team's performance at the deadline.

Recap of the Most Notable Trades

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March 24

Pittsburgh Penguins: Brenden Morrow and a 2013 third-round pick

Dallas Stars: Joe Morrow and a 2013 fifth-round pick

The Penguins had to give up a former first-round pick in Joe Morrow to acquire a gritty, veteran forward with playoff experience in Brenden Morrow. He will fill a top-six winger role while Sidney Crosby is injured and out of the lineup.

As for Dallas, it got a very talented prospect who projects to be a top-four defenseman at the NHL level. Morrow scored four goals with 11 assists in 57 games for the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2013.

The Penguins are hoping that Murray is the stay-at-home defenseman they need for the playoffs. Now that Paul Martin will be out of the lineup for over a month following wrist surgery, the Penguins were fortunate to acquire a player like Murray. He is strong defensively, blocks shots and is capable of improving the team's penalty kill.

The Sharks got a great return for an upcoming UFA. These two picks give San Jose a chance to add some quality prospects to its organization in the next two years.

March 27

Pittsburgh Penguins: Jarome Iginla

Calgary Flames: Ben Hanowski, Kenneth Agostino, 2013 first-round pick

This was the biggest trade of the deadline and a deal that caused plenty of controversy as well. Pittsburgh acquired a player who scores goals, plays a physical game, brings great leadership to the lineup and will do everything he can to win the first Stanley Cup of his career. The best part of this deal for Pittsburgh was that it didn't part with much value.

Both prospects the Penguins sent to Calgary are NCAA forwards with size and offensive skill, but it's unlikely that they will ever serve in a top-six role for the Flames. The best asset that the Flames acquired was the first-round pick.

The Blues upgraded their defensive depth by acquiring Leopold. He will provide the St. Louis blue line with power-play skill, good defensive play in his own end, much-needed depth and 59 games of playoff experience (including a Stanley Cup Final appearance). Leopold is eligible to become a UFA in the summer and scored eight points for the Sabres in 24 games this season.

Buffalo got a decent return for Leopold, and the second-round pick that was acquired could be a quality selection if the Blues miss the playoffs. However, if Sabres general manager Darcy Regier waited until the deadline to move Leopold, he might have gotten more value for his veteran blueliner.

April 1

Chicago Blackhawks: Michal Handzus

San Jose Sharks: 2013 fourth-round pick

The Blackhawks didn't have to give up much to acquire some needed depth and size down the middle. Handzus will kill penalties, add grit to the lineup, take important faceoffs and add playoff experience to the roster. He's a UFA in the summer.

The Sharks have acquired a lot of picks in the 2013 NHL draft over the last week, which will give them a lot of assets to trade in the summer or just add more talent/depth to their prospect pool.

Los Angeles Kings: Robyn Regehr

Buffalo Sabres: 2014 second-round pick, 2015 second-round pick

The Kings acquired the best defensive defenseman rumored to be available by acquiring Regehr from the Sabres. He will bring additional toughness, penalty-killing ability, experience and depth to the Los Angeles blue line. General manager Dean Lombardi also didn't have to give up any picks from this year's draft, which was a win for the Kings.

The Sabres have now traded two talented defensemen without getting a first-round pick in return. Since Regehr is so strong defensively and has plenty of playoff experience, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier should have gotten more for this player.

St. Louis Blues: Jay Bouwmeester

Calgary Flames: Mark Cundari, Reto Berra, 2013 first-round pick

The Flames continued to sell by sending top-four defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to St. Louis for two prospects and a first-round pick (Calgary now has three in 2013). Cundari is an undersized defenseman with offensive skill, while Berra is a talented goalie playing in Switzerland. Both prospects project to be NHL players.

As for the Blues, they are getting a fantastic offensive talent in Bouwmeester. He will help the team's transition game, play a prominent role on the power play and provide scoring from the blue line. He is also one of the most dependable defensemen in the league because he hasn't missed a game since the 2005-06 season.

April 2

Vancouver Canucks: Derek Roy

Dallas Stars: Kevin Connauton, 2013 second-round pick

The Canucks got their second-line center by making a move for Derek Roy. He cost them a top defensive prospect and a second-round pick in this year's draft. It was a steep price for a rental, but the team's biggest need was addressed.

The injury problems that have impacted star center Ryan Kesler and top-six winger David Booth this season created a strong need for more scoring depth on the Canucks roster, which Roy will provide.

Connauton is a talented offensive defenseman who projects to be a top-four blueliner at the NHL level. He has a great chance to make the Stars roster for the 2013-14 season. Credit Dallas for getting a great return for an upcoming UFA who probably wasn't going to re-sign in the summer.

The Bruins needed to boost their offensive skill and forward depth at the trade deadline, and general manager Peter Chiarelli accomplished this by acquiring Jaromir Jagr from Dallas.

The 41-year-old veteran tallied 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) for the Stars this season and gives the Bruins another option for the power play because of his goal-scoring skills and playmaking ability. He also brings a wealth of Stanley Cup experience and leadership to the team.

Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk didn't get any of the Bruins' top prospects in this trade. Still, MacDermid has the potential to be a third-line power forward and is capable of contributing at the NHL level right now. The trade could become a lot better for Dallas if Boston makes the 2013 Eastern Conference final, which would make the second-round pick a first-round selection.

This trade is a real gamble for the Rangers, who are hoping that Clowe will be more productive offensively than he was in San Jose this season (zero goals in 28 games).

Scoring won't be Clowe's only job in New York. He will also be asked to provide depth, grit and help kill penalties. But for a team that has scored the fewest goals in the league, giving up three draft picks for a struggling player who has been affected by a shoulder injury is a risky move.

With that said, the Sharks got a tremendous return for Clowe, who might have left in the summer as a free agent. San Jose is not a weaker team with Clowe out of the lineup because he wasn't producing offensively.

This was one of the major deals of trade deadline day. New York acquired some much-needed depth in this trade and three players who will provide the defensive skill and toughness that Gaborik did not bring to the Rangers lineup.

Gaborik struggled with the Rangers this season and has scored just two goals since Feb. 14, but he's still capable of scoring 35-plus goals in a normal 82-game season. He will benefit from a more offensive role in Columbus.

This is a great day for Blue Jackets fans because the team is committed to winning and has made bold but smart moves in an attempt to earn its second playoff berth in franchise history.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Ben Bishop

Ottawa Senators: Cory Conacher, 2013 fourth-round pick

The Lightning made a bold move to trade talented rookie winger Cory Conacher for young goalie Ben Bishop, but it was worth the risk for Tampa Bay. Bishop is fundamentally strong and has played well for the Senators since joining Ottawa at last year's deadline. The Lightning now have tremendous goaltending depth, which had been a huge weakness for them this season.

Ottawa was able to acquire another young goal scorer that will give the team more scoring depth for the final weeks of the season and the playoffs. Conacher will thrive with the Senators and is a great fit in head coach Paul MacLean's system because of his quickness and playmaking ability.

The Sabres decided to make a major trade by sending captain and first-line winger Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild. In return, Buffalo acquired a very good young goaltender in Matt Hackett. He could take over for Ryan Miller as the team's No. 1 netminder as early as next season.

Larsson is another highly rated prospect with a skill set that includes goal scoring and speed. Regier also did well to acquire two good draft picks, including a first-round selection in a deep 2013 draft.

Minnesota has won eight of its last 10 games, and it is playing its best hockey of the season. Pominville gives the Wild another reliable point producer, more leadership, playoff experience and speed. In a full 82-game season, Pominville is capable of scoring 65 or more points as a top-six forward. This trade makes the Wild a legitimate contender in the West.

Grades: Northeast Division

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Boston Bruins

The Bruins missed out on Jarome Iginla, but they might have acquired a better player in Jaromir Jagr from Dallas. Jagr has been more productive offensively than Iginla this season and will strengthen Boston's lackluster power play. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli also added depth defenseman Wade Redden from St. Louis in exchange for a draft pick.

Redden played some of his best hockey as an NHLer alongside current Bruins captain Zdeno Chara when both of them were on the Ottawa Senators. Chiarelli made some quality additions to his roster without parting with any top prospects.

Grade: B+

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres acquired several draft picks for top-four defensemen Robyn Regehr and Jordan Leopold, but they were unable to get a first-round pick or a top-tier prospect for either player. However, they got a fantastic return from the Minnesota Wild for captain Jason Pominville.

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier was able to acquire a top goalie prospect in Matt Hackett and a talented forward in Johan Larsson, as well as a 2013 first-round pick and a 2014 second-round selection. The rebuild has begun in Buffalo. Credit Regier for getting some good prospects and picks in exchange for his veteran players.

Grade: B+

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens were pretty quiet at the deadline. They made just one trade to acquire depth defenseman Davis Drewiske from the Los Angeles Kings for a fifth-round pick. Drewiske adds experience, depth, penalty-killing ability and leadership to the Canadiens lineup. He's also a high-character player.

Montreal currently leads the Northeast Division with 51 points, which is much higher in the standings than many people expected. With a lot of good young players at the NHL and AHL levels, there was no reason for general manager Marc Bergevin to mortgage some of the future to strengthen his squad. This team is capable of making a deep playoff run as currently constructed.

Grade: B-

Ottawa Senators

The Senators needed a top-six forward at the deadline, and they addressed this need by acquiring Cory Conacher from Tampa Bay. The Senators needed to part with young goalie Ben Bishop to make this move.

However, since Ottawa had three quality goalies who deserved to play (Bishop, Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner), it was expected that general manager Bryan Murray was going to use this depth to add a talented goal scorer to his roster.

Conacher ranks second in scoring among rookies with nine goals and 15 assists. He has more goals and points than anyone on Ottawa's roster right now. The Senators made an impressive addition to their team by using their depth and still kept all of their top prospects. Murray had a great deadline.

Grade: B

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs did not acquire a goaltender at the deadline, but they did add veteran defenseman Ryan O'Byrne from Colorado. He will provide the team's blue line with defensive skill and the ability to play 18-plus minutes per game.

Leafs general manager Dave Nonis was smart to avoid trading his 2013 first-round pick or any top prospects for a rental.

Grade: B-

Grades: Atlantic Division

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New Jersey Devils

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello did not make any major trades this season. The team decided to not trade top-line winger and third-leading scorer David Clarkson, who is eligible to be a UFA on July 5.

The Devils did acquire Steve Sullivan from the Coyotes for more depth on the wings, but he won't make a major impact offensively.

Grade: C+

New York Islanders

The Islanders' climb up the standings was likely a major factor in the team's decision to not become a seller at the trade deadline. New York's only trade this season was the Tim Thomas deal with the Boston Bruins earlier in the year.

The Islanders made a bold decision to hold on to captain and No. 1 defenseman Mark Streit. He is a UFA in the summer and could be the most coveted blueliner on the free-agent market. Credit the Islanders for holding onto their valuable trade assets in order to earn a playoff spot for the first time in six years.

Grade: B-

New York Rangers

The Rangers needed to add scoring depth, grit and an offensive defenseman at the deadline, and two of these needs were addressed. Rangers general manager Glen Sather made a major move by trading star winger Marian Gaborik to Columbus for depth forwards Derek Dorsett and Derick Brassard, defenseman John Moore and a draft pick.

These players are perfect for head coach John Tortorella's system because they play defense, block shots, play a physical style of hockey and will provide some much-needed bottom-six scoring. Sather also acquired veteran winger Ryane Clowe for more grit and size in the top nine, but he is not going to make much of an impact offensively.

Grade: B

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers made a few small moves this week by swapping Harry Zolnierczyk for Jay Rosehill in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks and also acquiring Columbus goalie Steve Mason.

The Flyers likely pursued a few star players, but with asking prices high, general manager Paul Holmgren was smart to hold on to his valuable trade assets. (Such as young center Sean Couturier and his 2013 first-round pick.)

Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins made a major move when they acquired Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames. A few days earlier, general manager Ray Shero traded for veteran winger Brenden Morrow from the Dallas Stars and acquired San Jose Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray.

Iginla gives the Penguins another reliable goal scorer, more leadership and a player motivated to win the first Stanley Cup of his career. Morrow is not the top-six player he used to be, but he will provide valuable top-nine depth, grit and playoff experience. Acquiring Jussi Jokinen from Carolina also gives Pittsburgh more forward depth and a shootout weapon.

Overall, Shero did very well because he made quality additions and gave up just one top prospect (Joe Morrow) and none of his important NHL players.

Grade: A

Grades: Southeast Division

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Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes have fallen out of the playoff race with a 1-8-1 record in their last 10 games. They currently sit five points behind the final playoff spot in the East but only four points away from the Southeast Division-leading Winnipeg Jets.

Carolina acquired veteran defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron from Tampa Bay on Tuesday. He will help replace the offensive skill that injured blueliner Joni Pitkanen brings to the blue line. They also dealt veteran forward Jussi Jokinen to Pittsburgh for a draft pick.

Carolina spent a lot of money in the offseason to end its three-year playoff drought, so it was a little disappointing to see it not make any strong moves at the deadline to compete for a postseason spot.

Grade: D+

Florida Panthers

The Panthers were not able to trade top-six center and upcoming UFA Stephen Weiss before the deadline, and his wrist injury was likely the main factor in that situation. Florida sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but it chose not to move any notable players, such as forward Kris Versteeg or young defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.

The Tampa Bay Lightning decided to hold on to veteran winger Martin St. Louis, but they did acquire a No. 1 goalie in Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators.

Bishop, 26, is a very talented goalie with an 8-5 record this season. He is ready to be a starter in the NHL and could be the Lightning's No. 1 goalie for a long time. Tampa Bay ranks 21st in goals against, and goaltending has been the team's major weakness this season. Credit general manager Steve Yzerman for making a good trade to acquire another young goalie with a lot of potential.

The price to acquire Bishop was high because Cory Conacher has been one of the best rookie forwards this season, but to acquire good goalies, you have to give up real value. This trade is worth the risk for the Lightning because they won't become a Stanley Cup contender until their goaltending and blue line is improved.

Tampa Bay ranks third in goals scored, so trading forwards is not going to weaken this squad very much.

Grade: B+

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets decided to not make any deadline deals despite the fact that they have 10 players eligible for free agency in the summer.

Winnipeg has lost four straight games, and its lead in the Southeast Division has shrunk over the last week. Management made the right decision to keep its veteran players and make a strong push for the playoffs.

Grade: C+

Washington Capitals

The Capitals are playing their best hockey of the season right now and decided to give up an important part of their future by trading 2012 first-round pick Filip Forsberg to Nashville for veteran winger Martin Erat and forward prospect Michael Latta.

Forsberg is one of the elite prospects in hockey and has the potential to be a top forward at the NHL level. Erat is well past his prime and has scored just four goals in 36 games this season. This is a risky move for a short-term gain by Washington, and it could end up being one of the worst trades in team history if Forsberg reaches his full potential.

In other Capitals news, top-six center and upcoming UFA Mike Ribeiro was not traded, which means that Washington could lose him in the summer for nothing. But with the Capitals' playoff chances getting better with each win, trading him would have sent the wrong message to the locker room.

Grade: D

Grades: Northwest Division

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Calgary Flames

The Flames finally began to rebuild this year by trading upcoming UFAs Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester. They were general manager Jay Feaster's most valuable trade assets.

In these two trades, Calgary acquired two additional first-round picks and a few decent prospects, including impressive goaltender Reto Berra of Switzerland. Feaster chose to hold on to forwards Mike Cammalleri and Curtis Glencross. They still have term left on their contracts and would have been good fits on playoff contenders.

Overall, the Flames were unable to get a lot of good prospects for Iginla and Bouwmeester, which puts pressure on the team to hit a home run on all three of its first-round selections in 2013 and 2014.

Grade: D+

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche sit at the bottom of the West standings and chose to keep their young players instead of making a move to strengthen the roster this season.

Veteran forward Milan Hejduk is the only upcoming UFA on the Avalanche roster that has any value, but he has a no-movement clause in his contract (per Capgeek).

The Avalanche were not expected to do much at the deadline. The only trade they made was sending defenseman Ryan O'Byrne to Toronto.

Grade: C

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers chose not to part with any veteran players such as forward Ales Hemsky or defenseman Ryan Whitney at the deadline, and this isn't a huge surprise. The team is playing well with a four-game winning streak and a 6-2-2 record in its last 10 games.

There was no need to become sellers because making the playoffs is important. Having the team's young players experience the postseason would be very beneficial to their development. By not trading any upcoming UFAs or important veterans, Edmonton will be in the mix for one of the final playoff spots.

The Oilers did make a small move to acquire Jerred Smithson from Florida. He gives Edmonton more center depth, a responsible forward defensively, more size/toughness and a good faceoff man.

Grade: B-

Minnesota Wild

The Wild have played well this season and will also challenge the Vancouver Canucks for the Northwest Division title. Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher made a huge trade to acquire Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville. He brings a lot of skill and experience to the top-six forward group.

Fletcher had lots of quality prospects to dangle at the deadline and did a great job of using them to acquire an impact forward who will excel in a top-six role and give his team great scoring depth. Minnesota already has a strong NHL roster and will be a tough team to beat in the postseason following this Pominville trade.

Grade: A

Vancouver Canucks

To the disappointment of many, the Canucks were not able to trade Roberto Luongo. This means that Vancouver might have to buy him out in the summer with the salary-cap ceiling going down to $64.3 million for the 2013-14 season.

Canucks general manager Mike Gillis acquired veteran center Derek Roy from Dallas to fill a top-six role and help his team's 29th-ranked power play. Vancouver did not add any gritty bottom-six forwards, but the team also didn't make a risky move like it did last year with the Cody Hodgson-Zack Kassian trade.

Grade: B

Grades: Central Division

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Chicago Blackhawks

As one of the deepest teams in the NHL, Chicago did not have a lot of needs at the deadline. Finding a depth center was one of them, and general manager Stan Bowman addressed it by acquiring veteran Michal Handzus from the Sharks.

He will give Chicago more size at center, impressive faceoff skill and additional forward depth. He also has previous experience playing for Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville.

Bowman made the smart decision to not acquire another goaltender and kept his top trade assets (prospects/first-round pick) for the future. Chicago is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup right now.

Grade: B

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have a good chance to earn a playoff spot in the West. They chose to make a major splash at the deadline by acquiring elite goal scorer Marian Gaborik from the Rangers. Columbus also added depth forward Blake Comeau from Calgary in exchange for a draft pick.

With a number of quality prospects close to becoming NHL-ready, there was no rush for Columbus to make a move for a veteran rental for this season. The team made some substantial improvements without giving up any of its top prospects or three 2013 first-round picks.

Grade: A+

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings failed to make any impact trades at the deadline. As a result, they will now have to make a playoff push with their current roster that is having trouble scoring goals. Detroit also needed special-teams help (17th in power-play success, 25th in penalty killing).

General manager Ken Holland did not address any of his team's needs, which included a top-four defenseman with offensive skill and a top-nine center. Expect the Red Wings to use their cap space to make some strong moves in the summer via free agency and in the trade market.

Grade: C-

Nashville Predators

The Predators made a small move to send depth forward Scott Hannan to the San Jose Sharks. They also added a top prospect in Filip Forsberg from Washington in exchange for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. Forsberg has the skill needed to be a top goal scorer at the NHL level, and acquiring him for an aging forward like Erat and a decent prospect in Latta is a huge win for Predators GM David Poile.

However, Nashville did not add an NHL forward to improve the league's 22nd-ranked offense or a defenseman to improve the team's 26th-ranked penalty kill. The Predators are tied with the Blues for the final playoff spot in the West, but they did not make any trades to strengthen their position in the standings.

Grade: B

St. Louis Blues

The Blues were one of the biggest winners of the deadline with their impressive acquisitions of top-four defensemen Jordan Leopold and Jay Bouwmeester. St. Louis is holding on to the final playoff spot in the West and needed to add more depth and talent to its blue line because the team's goaltending isn't as impressive as it was last season.

Blues GM Doug Armstrong only gave up draft picks to acquire these veterans and did not have to part with an important NHL roster player or a top prospect. Expect these trades to help St. Louis make a deep run in the playoffs. Its strongest need (blue-line depth/scoring) was addressed in a major way.

Grade: A

Grades: Pacific Division

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Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks were unlikely to make any major moves at the deadline following the contract extensions of star forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Finding a top-nine center was a need for GM Bob Murray to address, and he found a player for this role by acquiring Matthew Lombardi from Phoenix.

Acquiring a depth defenseman would have also strengthened his roster, but Murray made the correct decision to hold on to his top prospects and the 2013 first-round pick. There was no need to make any major changes to a team that will likely go into the West playoffs as the second seed.

Grade: B+

Dallas Stars

The Stars were one of the most active sellers at the trade deadline. They moved upcoming UFAs Brenden Morrow, Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy over the last few days. They also added Erik Cole from Montreal in exchange for Michael Ryder in February.

Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk was able to acquire two impressive young defensemen (Joe Morrow and Kevin Connauton) and additional draft picks to strengthen the team's prospect pool. That will help the Stars rebuild for future success.

Grade: B

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings traded for Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr on Monday to strengthen their blue line with defensive skill, toughness and additional depth. He was arguably the best stay-at-home defenseman available at the deadline and will be a UFA at the end of the season.

The Kings also made a good decision not to trade backup goalie and upcoming RFA Jonathan Bernier, who has been one of the team's best players this season. Adding a scoring winger was a need for Los Angeles, but the addition of Regehr is a strong move by GM Dean Lombardi. He has another strong squad going into the playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Grade: B

Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes have a lot of upcoming UFAs and some talented defensemen (Keith Yandle and Derek Morris, for example), but they didn't acquire any high draft picks for these players. Now Phoenix faces the possibility of losing quite a few players in free agency without getting any value in return.

That isn't a good situation for a team that is struggling financially. The Coyotes desperately need more offensive talent, especially a legitimate top-six center, and they failed to make any positive moves at the deadline.

Grade: D

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks did a tremendous job acquiring draft picks for players who weren't playing well or were upcoming UFAs. San Jose GM Doug Wilson also made some strong moves to bolster the depth of his team by acquiring forward Raffi Torres and defenseman Scott Hannan.

He was able to strengthen the future of his team by acquiring draft picks. He also improved his current roster by making some low-risk/high-reward deals to prevent the Sharks from slipping out of the playoff race.

Grade: B+

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report.Follow him on Twitter. He was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs in Boston. All salary information courtesy of CapGeek.